Catherine Connolly will speak her mind as President — the template is already there

As Catherine Connolly begins her presidency, echoes of Michael D Higgins’ outspoken style suggest Ireland may not mind a president with convictions

President-elect Catherine Connolly during a visit to  Áras an Uachtaráin. Picture: Tony Maxwell

One of the largely unspoken, though sometimes open, worries of those who opposed Catherine Connolly's election as President are her politics.

On a range of issues — relations with the US, views on foreign policy generally, European fidelities — they worry that Ms Connolly will be too left, too fringe, too anything.